4-H project can lead to life's passion

Will Schneider, left and judge Steve Cramer, watch as Schneider's rocket takes flight into the clear blue sky during the 4-H Rocket Fly at the Morgan County Fair on Wednesday. (Rachel Alexander/Times)

Sometimes, what we gain from clubs in our youth can lead us to discovering what we want to do with the rest of our lives.Such is the case with Morgan County 4-H member Will Schneider who found what he wants to do with the rest of his life through his 4-H projects."I've known that I want to go (Colorado School of Mines) since eighth grade," Schneider said. He added he hopes to study mechanical engineering and computer science so he can ultimately help design drones for the military.He was able to decide all of this because time he has spent in the robotics and rocket programs in Morgan County 4-H.The 4-H Rocket Fly was able to take place Wednesday morning during the Morgan County Fair after being initially cancelled on July 30 due to rain.At the Fly, Schneider, who has been in the rocket program for nine years, shot off a rocket that he designed himself. The senior participant in the group has completed this final unit of self-designed rockets for a few years."It's so much cooler (than store-bought rockets)," he said. "You can call it your own, no one else in the world has it."This year, Schneider designed a blue and silver rocket that he wanted to "in a way mimic a Navy missile."Schneider explained that the rocket program is great learning experience for participants who start out in their first year with small rockets that run on small engines and gradually move up to larger rockets.He added that it is a great way to introduce kids to physics at a very young age.

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He said that when a participant designs their own rocket, they often start with the look of it, but then have to change it due to physics."Once you launch your first rocket, you're instantly hooked. It's the wow factor," he said.He added his advice for younger participants, "Your imagination is the limit. Keep with it an it gets better and better."